THE LAWS OF EUCHRE
Adopted by the Somerset Club of Boston
March 1, 1888

Written by: H. C. Leeds + James Dwight

Section 7

CASE IV.

Leading a trump up to the right.

C

10, 7
K
J, 10
VOID

B

A, Q
J, A
9
VOID

Turn card
J

D

9
VOID
7, 8
K, 8

A

(dealer)

J, K
VOID
A, K
A

A adopts the trump. Score, four to one
in favor of A and C.

First Trick.—B leads the left, C plays
the seven of hearts, D the nine, and A wins
with the right.

Second Trick.—A leads the ace of spades,
B follows with the nine, C with the ten, and
D with the seven.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Tricks.—No
matter what A plays, he is euchred, since
B wins the last three tricks.

CASE V.

Under-play in fourth hand with a large tenace.

C

J, K, 10
VOID
K, 10
VOID

B

A, Q
J, K, 10
VOID
VOID

Turn card
A

D

8
VOID
Q, 10
K, J

A

(dealer)

9, 7
A, Q, 7
VOID
VOID

Score, three-all. A adopts the trump.

First Trick.—B leads ace of hearts, C
plays the ten, D the eight, and A the seven.

Second Trick.—B continues with the
queen of hearts, C covers, and wins with
the king, D throws the ten of spades, and
A the nine of hearts.

Third Trick.—C leads the left bower,
D throws the queen of spades, A the seven
of diamonds, and B refuses to win by
playing under with the ten of diamonds,
thereby making a certainty of establishing
the euchre with the tenace of right and
king in the fourth and fifth tricks.

CASE VI.

Trumping your partner's trick to put the lead through
the strong hand.

C

A, 10
VOID
Q
J, 7

B

J
VOID
A, 7
K, Q

Turn card
A

D

K, 8
Q
VIOD
9, 8

A

(dealer)

VOID
A, J, 10
K
10

Score three-all. A adopts the trump.

First Trick.—B leads the king of clubs,
C follows with the seven of clubs, D with
the eight of clubs, and A with the ten of
clubs.

Second Trick.—B continues with the
queen of clubs, C plays the knave, D the
nine, and A wins with the ten of diamonds.

Third Trick.—A leads the king of spades, B covers with the ace, C plays the queen, and D trumps, and wins with the queen of diamonds.

Fourth Trick.—D leads the king of
hearts, A ruffs with the ace, and is euchred
by B's left bower.

Remarks.—C in the third trick perceived
that his queen was useless, unless
used to trump his partner's trick and put
the lead through A, with the hope that his
partner had the left and might be able to
get it in. The ace was turned up, and A
could have no card lower than the queen,
since he had ruffed fourth hand with the
ten.

CASE VII.

Refusing to ruff when you hold the high trump.

C

VOID
7, 9
VOID
K, 9, 10

B

A, 9, 8
VOID
J
8

Turn card
Q

D

J
K, Q
A, 9
VOID

A

(dealer)

VOID
VOID
K, Q
J, A, Q

Score, three to one in favor of B and D.

C assists, and A plays alone.

First Trick.—B leads ace of hearts,
D follows with knave, and A ruffs with
queen of clubs.

Second Trick.—A leads the right, B
plays the eight, and D the nine, of spades.

Third Trick.—A leads the king of
spades, B refuses to ruff, having the highest
trump, thereby euchring A.

The opportunity for this coup of refusing
to ruff occurs very frequently.

Don Bunnis the creator of
OhioEuchre.Com.
As a self-proclaimed Euchre authority, Don is involved in teaching Euchre along with the promotion and operation of Euchre tournaments.He can be reached at info@OhioEuchre.Com